Who is Lamine Yamal - Barcelona's next big thing?

The 15-year-old recently trained with the first team

La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, has assembled a myriad of young players over the years, and recently there has been another 15-year-old training alongside the first team. The 15-year-old Lamine Yamal is presently training with the first team under Xavi's direction as the youngster has fascinated Xavi during training and is hoping for a professional contract next year.

Family background, and football

He was born and raised in Barcelona's Catalonia suburb Mataro, the son of a Moroccan father and a Guinea mother. He began his football career at the age of five. When the Barcelona academy spotted him, and has since emerged into a seasoned player, satisfying many of the coaches he has worked with.

Lamine has been a member of La Masia for 15 years and was given the opportunity to train with first-team players after convincing Xavi during his youth games. He is presently a member of the U-19 youth team.

With Xavi now offered him the chance to train with the first team, if Lamine maintains his form and impresses Xavi, he might win the first-team debut soon in the coming years and will be on his route to being a Barcelona youngster player, potentially breaking Ansu Fati's milestone for the club's youngest player.

Despite being only 15, he is now not qualified to sign a professional contract due to his tender age, and Barcelona will immediately give him a deal till he reaches 16 next year.

While on the international stage, he has the authority to choose his nationality, His father is Moroccan, thus if Lamine is inclined to swap nations, the Moroccan FA will be eager to consider his desire and draught him into their football squad.

The 15-year-old is currently focusing on his homeland, representing Spain's U-15 and U-19 youth teams.

When Lamine Yamal can make his senior team debut?

Yamal is now unable to sign a professional contract, and Barcelona will have to wait until his 16th birthday on July 23, 2023, before awarding him an offer. Yamal also has the same alternatives as Jamal Musiala, who left Chelsea as a teenager to join Bayern Munich.

According to rumors, a number of clubs are keen on signing the 15-year-old. With Bayern Munich and Liverpool being two of the clubs linked with the youngster. Although Barcelona are convinced that Yamal will continue at the club.

Lamine Yamal style of play.

Yama, who is primarily a striker, can also play in a wider role and currently chooses to operate from the same position.

He is now more comfortable performing on the wings and has received great marks for his dribbling abilities, with the management considering him the best dribbler in the young teams and comparing him to Neymar and Ronaldinho. Aside from his ability to confidently take on defenders, he is also a brilliant passer who can set up his teammates with defence-cracking deliveries.

He usually tries to beat the opposition before putting the ball in the net. Yamal is quick, and his dribbling talents, combined with his exceptional passing, could propel him to an unprecedented level in his career.